Maseru, Sep.29–The Lesotho Electricity and Water Authority (LEWA) has issued seven licence exemptions to One Power Africa to facilitate the installation of mini-grids in seven rural communities across Lesotho.
LEWA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Lebeko Sello handed over the licence exemptions to One Power Africa, saying the exemptions will enable the company to implement mini-grid projects in Ketane in Mohale’s Hoek, Tosing in Quthing, Tlhanyaku in Qacha’s Nek, Sehlaba-Thebe, Matsoaing in Mokhotlong, Thaba-Tseka and Berea.
Mr. Sello said the exemptions were specifically intended to support the seven projects in the identified communities.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, One Power Africa representative Mr. Matthews Oroz said the company understood the importance of regulating essential services such as water and electricity, but stressed that access to modern technology and infrastructure was necessary for rural development.
Mr. Oroz said conventional electricity grids might not reach some remote communities in the near future, making mini-grids, or isolated grids, an important option for providing electricity to rural households.
“Modernisation needs access to modern technology as a way of life,” Oroz said, adding that mini-grids could provide a practical solution where extending the traditional grid was difficult.
He described the initiative as transformative for Basotho particularly those living in rural communities that have limited access to electricity.
Mr. Oroz said One Power Africa had partnered with several institutions in the implementation of the projects, including pension fund, the Ministry of Energy, the Roads Directorate, the Revenue Services Lesotho (RSL) and the Lesotho Electricity Corporation (LEC).
He said the completion date for the projects had not yet been determined, as implementation would depend on the availability and timing of funding.
The project is estimated to cost M250 million.
Under the proposed connection arrangement, households will pay a M500 connection fee.
Families without ready boards will also be connected at a cost of M500, according to the project details provided.
Households will then pay M5 per single unit of electricity consumed.
The initiative is expected to expand access to electricity in communities where connection to the conventional national grid may be difficult, while creating opportunities for households to access modern energy services.
The seven licence exemptions mark a step towards the implementation of the mini-grid projects in the targeted communities, subject to the availability of funding and other project requirements.
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